kland

I'm a Dr. B. patient also....just love that man and his staff! I'm glad you're home and doing well. You were in good hands this morning.

Hi Everyone! I haven't been on this thread in a while and wanted to check in. I seem to be doing pretty good, although I think I might be at a bit of a plateau right now. I figure that it's par for the course, since I am planning on cosmetic surgery in January and want to lose another 15 to 20 pounds by then! Anyone else considering getting any work done? I am very happy with the weight loss though and am working hard to keep pushing the scale down. I've had three fills and am scheduled for another one in early October. I think I'm pretty close to my sweet spot, but I am dealing with hunger and the ability to eat a bit more than I think I should be able to eat. If I would exercise, I bet that next 20 pounds would come off pretty quick. I've had an elliptical trainer sitting in the box in my living room for a long time now. It's heavy, so I can't put it together by myself. I need to hire a handyman I guess because pulling hubby off the golf course for manual labor just isn't going to happen! LOL I hope you are all doing well!

I LOVE MY BAND!!! It's been awhile since I've posted; life has just been crazy busy. You know how it goes..... I'm watching the weight come off and that is just the most thrilling experience. I broke the 160 mark this morning and I just want to shout to the world and show everyone my happy dance! Did I tell you that I love my band? I no longer binge eat, I don't eat large amounts of food at every sitting, food is not on my mind all the time anymore. Sodas are a things of the past. I now eat like a thin person. I don't have to completely deny myself of all things wonderful in food, but I surely do have the easy ability to control my food impulses. Losing weight just does an amazing thing to your ego. I'm feeling confident and sexy again and I still have a way to go before I hit goal. I can easily see the light at the end of the tunnel. I don't feel like I'm about to sabotage myself; I'm going to get there! If you're on the fence about getting the band, I know, it's scary. My wish for you is peace in your decision-making. It may not be the answer for everyone; I don't know. But I'm just telling the world right now that it was truly a Godsend for me. Anyone else just feeling fantastic this morning?

I have a Tanita InnerScan and it is on the money every time! Tanita is also the brand that is used at my surgeon's office and the fill center.

I weight myself every morning and when the number moves down, I update my ticker!

I still have some of those bingeing desires, but my band puts me in my place very quickly. Now when I binge, it's two packs of 100 calorie somethings, rather than eating on a big bag of Cheetos for awhile. Like this morning....I thought I was going to cheat big time. DD has a bunch of girls over for a slumber party and DH got donuts for Breakfast. I put a kolache, choc donut and 2" cinnamon roll on my plate. I was going for it; just too good to pass up. Well, I got through the small cinnamon roll and 1/2 of the kolache (both of which are pretty small) and my band said, "You are done Miss Thang!" I do not want more and before my band, I would have eaten kolaches and donuts ALL DAY LONG! So yeah, I cheated this morning, but I didn't undo all the work that I've done so far. I also know that I'm done being bad for the day and can move on without the "I suck" mentality. I love what this band does for me. It is my crutch when my willpower is gone. The band telling me that I'm done with the binge gets me right back on track.

I never want to be without my band!

I'm glad to hear you are all feeling so great!

You have had fantastic results, Gayle! You should be soooo proud and I bet you do feel awesome!

I have some stretch marks below my navel and plan on having a tummy tuck with muscle repair. Hopefully the TT will get rid of those unsightly stretch marks. Other than that, I don't know that there is anything that will get rid of them.

I was banded about 2 months ago and at this point, I think it's one of the best things I could have done for myself. I loooooove my band! As I understand it, us lower BMI patients lose slower than if we had more weight to lose, but we lose. I've lost 20 pounds in about 2 months, which is awesome. I do know that if I didn't have my band, I would have already given up the fight! Now I KNOW I can do this and I have this wonderful tool to help me keep the pounds off in the future. I went to Dr. Benavides in the Dallas area and my experience there was fantastic. My recovery was very quick and easy; just a few days of true discomfort. I didn't talk to my regular doctor about the procedure; I found out about the band on my own and did extensive research before committing to having it done. I did have to pay for the band out of my pocket and believe it to be the best $13,000 I have ever spent! Now I 'm looking forward to spending a bunch of bucks on plastic surgery to reshape my body so that it will match how I feel on the inside! Best of luck to you!

I usually have a South Beach or Kashi cereal bar for breakfast.

I weight daily when I'm losing and not as often when I'm at a standstill. LOL

I told everyone! It just doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

That is fantastic, Chris....congratulations!

One of the major reasons I chose lapband is so that I can eat like a thin person. A thin person might eat healthy most of the time, but they do allow themselves indulgences. I refuse to live a life that totally denies me all of the foods I enjoy. I will happily live a life that allows me to enjoy foods in moderation. I'm a self-pay as well and if I choose to eat a small bag of Cheetos every now and then, I will be fine. It was the large bag of Cheetos followed by the huge bowl of ice cream (or other comparable goodies) on a daily basis that was my problem. It is important to realize that each and everyone of us has a different lifestyle that poses different sets of issues. For me, denying myself of cheater foods would surely have me looking for them all the time. I don't want to work against the band, I want to work with the band. I've not been banded too long, but so far, so good. The weight is coming off and I am learning how to eat healthy without totally denying myself along the way. I think we all just have to do what works best for us.

Worst...not being able to eat big quantities of the foods I love. Best...not being able to eat big quantities of the foods I love. Really, the best is having to buy new clothes because my old stuff is just too big. There is a huge boost of confidence that goes along with weight loss and knowing that you have a tool to aid you in maintaining that high!

Like Bigbaby, I used AIGB and Dr. Benavides. I couldn't ask for a better experience. Dr. B. and his staff are remarkable!

Good to see everyone here! I just got back from vacation in Myrtle Beach after having my first fill two days before the trip. I'm pleased to say that I enjoyed food while I was there, but didn't go overboard, which was certainly a change. I didn't gain any weight while there, which was my goal. I did get stuck and PB for the first time though. Ack...that was awful. As soon as I was done though, I felt better. Now I know what y'all mean about trying to eat bread and can only imagine that it will be totally out of my diet when I get my 2nd fill next week!

Yesterday, after I got my fill, I could hardly drink water.....I described it as feeling like a loaf of bread had been shoved down my throat. Today, I'm wide open and hungry. Crap.

I was in and out the same day. They gave me IV meds for potential nauseau, so I had none....that was great. I was glad to go home and really had a very easy recovery.

Maureen, you are so welcome and you should be proud...you're willpower is awesome and I hope it lasts a good while! We all need to get bit by the willpower bug!

I had my first fill yesterday. The doctor put 2cc's in at surgery and an additional 2cc's for the fill....4cc's total now. I have a 10cc AP small band. The procedure was very easy and totally painfree!

I'm not sure how far under the port is, but I can press in that area and feel it very easily. I've let others feel it too! It probably is a little different with everyone. I have a low profile port that is placed a little left of center and about 5" below my bra line. The scar is about 1" above it. The injection for the fill was nothing...absolutely nothing. I just got my first one yesterday and didn't even feel the prick of the needle. I was a little nervous too, but it was just so easy. The doctor had me lay down and place my hands under my rump. He said this brings the port a little closer to the top. He felt around for a split second and then went right into the port with the needle. I braced myself for a shot in my stomach, but there was just no need! I felt a little bit of a flushing sensation and then it was over. It was only slightly odd, but not painful at all.

I'm glad your fill went well Bigbaby! I ended up getting mine yesterday and was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was. Dr. B ended up doing mine so I wouldn't have to make another trip today. He told me I would probably need another one pretty quick and had me schedule for 3 weeks out. I just love the decision I made to go with him! Yay!!! He told me that I had 2 cc's in from surgery and he put another 2 in, so I have a total of 4. Yesterday, I was quite uncomfortable and thought it was too much, but it's all good today.